Slimliz

You are gonna be buying smaller and smaller scrubs.
The final day I worked before going out for my sleeve/hernia repair was filled with funny stuff.
It ended with me getting off work and stopping in the men's room on the way out....by the front entrance. It'd been a very long day and all my peers were long gone....I'd stayed over to get some administrative bs done in preparation for my 3 weeks off.
I looked up in the mirror as I was washing my hands and saw myself wearing a polo styled short sleeve shirt that had been well worn.....loved the fit and style of it. It was my "skinny shirt". Something about that damn shirt that always made me feel good wearing it. It began life as black....but was a washed out charcoal by then.
Anyway......I peeled it off and threw it in the trash and walked my jiggly beer gut ass outa there and across the parking lot to my car.
That was 7 months ago. The shirt was a 6x.
I just ordered some new work shirts yesterday. They are sized in 2xlt.
I've done nothing special....nothing extraordinary. I've simply followed, for the most part, followed my surgeon's plan.
You will be loving those next level scrubs in your near future !!!!!!!!!
Life is good.

Post Op Day 2
Gets better every day. I've walked around, used the restroom, now I have gotten Good at sipping fluids I'm excited to keep this going. Still a bit nervous on how successful I will be.
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Thanks jessjames it went really well, 4 days down and feeling great
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Hey y'all!
I'm starting my sleeve journey hopefully by the end of next month (June 2016). I've been overweight the majority of my life and am finally ready to be comfortable in my skin again. I'll be a self pay so everything is moving very quickly for me.
I had my initial consult Wednesday, May 25th. During the consultation I learned the differences between the band, the sleeve, and the bypass and opted for the sleeve. I felt the sleeve would be the safest bet for me.
I have a blood clotting disorder (Factor 5 Leiden) and had to schedule an appointment with a hematologist to get the all clear for surgery. That appointment is scheduled for June 7th along with my nutrition class. The nutrition class will cover the post op diet along with do's and don't's.
Once I get the all clear from the hematologist, it should be smooth sailing. I was told I would be scheduled within one to two weeks after my hematologist appointment.
I'm currently at 223 and my goal weight is 140. I'm so ready for this journey! I'll be updating my journal along the way. If you'll be having your surgery near the end of June please let me know so we can support each other!
Just for fun, a friend of mine who is a photographer will be doing a before photo shoot in a week and an after photo shoot a year from now. I have also been stocking up on the cutest drinkware I can find in the hopes that if I can make the liquid diet fun it might be easier. I want to make it all as positive as I can.
I apologize if I rambled, but I want to be able to look back and remember all the details. I'll be sure to post throughout my procedure and will check in with progress along the way.
Much love from Alabama!
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*follow your eating plan
*eat your Protein
*take your Vitamins
*drink your Water
*go low carb
*low to no sugar
*exercise
*as you lose weight & get into better shape - keep revamping your exercise, don't sweat it if you don't lose every day or every week - it's gonna come off so don't dwell on it
*enjoy the journey because it goes fast
*don't obsess over losing the weight
(try not to anyways)
*enjoy other things going on in your life
*Celebrate weight loss with non-food things
*if you do go out to eat at a restaurant - don't get too anxious; you're gonna have healthier options but even if you do choose unhealthy you're only going to have a small portion so it's not gonna hurt your progress (just don't make it an everyday habit)
*stay away from your trigger food(s) - they can get you into trouble... mine is popcorn. (Or aka crackcorn)
*enjoy the compliments - don't turn around with a negative comment like "yeah but I have loose skin or I still have X amount of weight to lose"
*just smile and say thank you - you know you deserved that compliment and know how hard you worked to get to where you are...
*don't let anyone get you down with saying shitty things like "I knew of someone that lost all the weight only to gain it back" --- you are not that person they are referring to.
*really push yourself with exercise (later on) - you won't die even though you may feel like you are.
See what you're made of!
You'll feel so good afterwards knowing that "I just did that!"
It's addicting. You'll want to continue to push your own limits.
*try new exercises and such
*your incisions will be tender, red and sore. If they are oozing pus then get them checked out - otherwise they should be fine
*that left (or sometimes right) shoulder pain is the leftover gas/air they pumped up your stomach with from surgery - it'll go away
*that extra painful area (left quadrant) on your stomach is where most of the work was done. It will be sore longer. (Bypass patients anyways) - the pain will go away eventually
*do what your doctor says about eating, drinking, exercise, everything. Follow the rules!
*Just remember why you had this surgery.
You want to be healthy and happy.
***No food or drink will make you as happy as how that new dress or pair of jeans fit. ***
- Or when you are able to walk or jog without being so out of breath
- or when you can fit in an airplane seat comfortably and not need a seat belt extension.
- or when you don't have to worry if that plastic chair will hold you
- or you can bend down to pick up that pencil you dropped and get up easily
- or having that social anxiety anytime you go out in public
- or looking around a crowded room only to be mortified that you're the biggest one there
- or taking the elevator up one floor and being ashamed of it because you know what people are thinking
Don't let the food control you anymore.
***Nothing tastes as good as being fit and healthy feels.***
*Don't think you have to have a certwin food because you'll never have it again; it will always be there. It's not going anywhere. You're just choosing to not have it now - you're in control. McDonald's will still be around 100 years from now, so don't fret.
*Breathe.
*You can do this.
It's easier than you think. You will have a tough time at first because everything is so new and you're most likely withdrawling from carbs, sugars, junk etc. But once that is out of your system - it does get easier, honest!
And when the weight starts dropping your priorities and cravings change.
You'll crave more successful weight loss then you will carbs! You'll think to yourself "that *insert food of choice here* isn't worth it!"
You'll crave exercise. Your body will anxiously await to move!
*Weigh and track your food. It helps a lot. I use Myfitnesspal. And I have a fitbit. Friendly competition is motivating
*Take one day at a time, again, try not to obsess and have your weight loss consume your mind. There are other things to your life right now too.
*Every few weeks or month - go thru your closet and try on smaller clothes - this is a huge motivator! I forgot to do that so many times and totally bypassed clothes and then never even got to wear them. (Brand new clothes, dammit!)
Gave them away with the price tags still on them.
Anyways, you can do this!
If there's any other questions - just ask
Heather
**if there is anything someone wants to add -- please do!
Let's all help each other be as successful as we can possibly be!
Surgery date: September 21 2015
Starting weight: 273.4
Current weight 168.4
Loss of 105 lbs so far.
18 to go

It sounds reasonable to me. I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. I went from a size 3X down to a size small in about 6 months. It is simply amazing how quick you can lose the weight.

Thinking ahead to what might be realistic this holiday weekend next year. Not fantasy, but....possible, likely.
So, next year Memorial Day....I am going to be away for the weekend, to a seaside/beach location. The exact kind of place I avoid now bc right now I am only a spectator to everyone else's fun.
Next year, maybe I will go swimming, maybe I won't....depends on what I want to do. I will have a CHOICE. I will be in a perfectly nice one piece bathing suit with a gorgeous sarong tied around my waist, sitting outside by the pool maybe.....no more sitting by the pool in jeans and a t shirt and lying that "oh, no I am not too hot."
I will maybe be wearing a size medium or large (am 3x now), but no matter what size I am, I won't have to wonder if people are are staring at me for unkind reasons. When I walk into a crowded restaurant and walk between tables, I won't have to apologize again and again for bumping every table I walk between. Next year, maybe I won't be sweating when everyone else is not. Maybe my makeup won't sweat off.
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Why is it that when people hear that someone who was destroying their body through obesity has lost 100+ pounds with the help of surgery, some will call that a "cop out" or the "easy way out".....
But when someone who is destroying their life through alcohol abuse and gets help through an intensive, in-patient recovery program with medical professionals....how come that's perfectly okay, even laudable?
Why is getting serious medical intervention for obesity treated like something to be ashamed of, when we applaud those who take similar intense intervention to drug or alcohol addictions?
Aren't we all just trying to save our lives ?
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Hello everyone, today I made my one year post op anniversary. Having surgery was the best decision I made in my life.
HW 340
SW 320
CW 195
GW ( happy where I am )

YES. I would have to get to 129 to have a healthy BMI, and my goal is 160. I will re-evaluate when I get to 160. I can't even wrap my mind around being *that* small.

I was just wondering if anyone else's goal weight still leaves them in the overweight or obese range according to BMI. My goal weight is 172lbs, which would put me at a BMI of about 29.5 (still overweight). When I get there, I might decide to keep going to 155lbs, which would still leave me overweight with a BMI of 27.5. Is anyone else in the same boat? Do you think we should be aiming for "healthy" weights?

Mine will too! I think the BMI scale is completely unrealistic and I don't want to be skin & bones. As far as I'm concerned - that's neither healthy or attractive! I'm okay with being overweight on the BMI chart. The scale says I would be considered "healthy weight" if I weighed 104lbs (I'm 5'2"). I can't even imagine.

Here is a really good article for you! http://blog.fooducate.com/2013/01/06/when-stevia-isnt-stevia/
Basically, many forms of stevia aren't as, uh..."natural" as they want you to think. Chemicals have to be used to transform that little slightly sweet leaf into a white powder or clear liquid that is 40 times sweeter than sugar. It bothers some people more than others, and some brands/forms of stevia are more "natural" than others. Hope this helps!
EDIT: here's a good breakdown on Truvia as well, which I used for quite a while in my first several months post op. It's widely available in grocery stores and a lot of people use it.
http://blog.fooducate.com/2013/07/20/warning-stevia-sweeteners-may-not-be-as-natural-as-you-think/

May 17 2016......Weight was 345 ...
May 23 2016......Weight is 320.5 Sweet! 120g Protein , 64oz Water per day

Yayyyy I'm home Guys.. finally feeling great no pain killers 1st day yes.. but after that Nada... So Happy I'm Home.... Listen a very important tip drinks lots of HOT TEA it helps break the Gas pockets .....
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Great article about a nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston who had VSG....
ttp://www.wcvb.com/health/hospital-nurse-loses-135-pounds-after-stomachslimming-surgery/39632422?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=FBPAGE&utm_campaign=WCVB%20Channel%205%20Boston
It's nice to see something positive in the media about bariatric surgery.

I am 48, and have been overweight and unhappy about my weight since my mid-20's....when I had my children at age 25 and 28, I didn't have my photo taken holding them in my hospital bed after their births, BC I didn't want my children to look back and be embarrassed that I was fat......I never swam with my children at a public pool, and when we went to the beach I pretended I just wanted to read, not swim.....I once went to an amusement park with my daughter and the safety belt snapped on me halfway through a roller coaster ride (I could have killed her or me or both)......every milestone in my children's lives I have hidden in the back of the photos promising myself that the next Girl Scout camping trip, the next ski vacation, the next middle school graduation, the next prom, the next college drop off....THEN I would be 100 pounds lighter BC I would finally buckle fine and get serious and beat this thing. The next one never happened the way I wanted.
I think you're making the decision I wish I had made when I was in my 20's. Don't let anyone tell you what's right for you.
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yup! life is GOOD!
but at least if I get off track there are people here who care enough to turn me back in the right direction. a good friend is a priceless treasure

@@Babbs when my stomach no longer stuck out further than my boobs - that was a teary eye day.

So today I woke up and took my normal morning tubby. When I went to dry off the strangest thing happened... The towel went all the way around me and I was even able to tuck a bit in to hold it!
This is proof that towel gnomes exist and they must have come in the night and magically made all my towels longer and bigger. The husband says it's because I've lost weight but he's a silly man. I know who's a work here. Now if they could just give up the underpants and sock gnomes that infest this house I'd be ever so grateful...
Is this one of those NSV thingies?
Wow. What a gift this surgery is. Every day I'm amazed and thankful.
Jen
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I think that you can do all of this again. You may find that you can do it even better once you detach a bit from the impact that food has on you.
I have always been an avid griller. As a hunter, I learned to prep wild game and bring it to the table for the family to enjoy. It was tremendously satisfying, too. In time, I learned that any of those techniques can easily be translated over to other types of food.< /p>
I really began to enjoy not just grilling but the indoor cooking as well. My indoor game isn't as strong as say, my little sister.....who is a freaking wizard.....but it gets the job done. Feeding a teenager who is perpetually hungry and loves real food....not the microwaved, frozen food stuff his mom "cooks" is a not only fun, but needed.
I went through the build up to surgery....diet was much different than before. I cooked very, very little and then not at all during the liquid phase both pre & post. I avoided the kitchen. Stayed on liquids for 4 weeks post and still avoided the kitchen. Went through another month with the soft Proteins and continued to avoid the kitchen.
I remember distinctly that I had a 7 day off period that arrived on my 9th week. My teenager sat down with me and was very candid in his desires over whether or not I'd ever be cooking again. He said he was really worn out with the frozen foods deal. At first I simply laughed but then he drove home the point....he was sick and tired and he wasn't joking.
It snapped me out of it and I went shopping later that morning and loaded up on ribs, pork shoulder, beef brisket and lots of charcoal along with stuff to make homemade bbq sauces and good side dishes.
I grilled everyday of that that 7-day off and it was therapeutic for me.
I was back in the game and happy about it. Happier than ever, in fact.
I could make all the normal stuff I did before....the carb loaded stuff......and simply chose to not eat it. I could cook all sorts of stuff but had the newfound ability to select only what was appropriate for new way of eating.
Amazing.
I now enjoy cooking & grilling more than ever. It is fun, yet it has no power over me....which makes it even more fun.
I think you'll see similar things occur once you have a new view on food and the types that you must have and not have.

we just got finished having a bunch of people over to Celebrate my daughter graduating tomorrow.
I had a blast cooking and serving and enjoying everyone's company. My Dad did the grilling, I did the prep.
I would say maybe the first month or so when you are seriously recovering from surgery you will want to nest in, and I am not really interested in baking yet - but yes, you will still enjoy all of that.
I love playing with food and making new recipes. I think you will also.
and yes to everything @@Dub said above.

@@arredondok also if you have a frozen pop mold, the Quest Cookies and cream make wonderful frozen treat!!!

I'm pretty scared/anxious. I've been taking a lorazepam to go to bed each night for the past 2 nights. Things I'm scared about include: the surgery itself; the recovery and potential complications, and hair loss (I have thin, fine hair to begin with and really can't afford to lose any). My surgeon doesn't require a liquid diet until 24 hours before so I a bit nervous about what Sunday is going to be like. I'm also scared about the social repercussions as I have a lot of friends that I haven't told.
With all that said, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I thought about this decision for a year before I made it and slowly started the process. And I have such bad osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis with a lot of pain and mobility impairment (esp. now that I can't take NSAIDS before surgery or afterward for awhile). I'm so hopeful that once I lose a significant amount of weight I might actually be pain-free or at least have greatly reduced pain and greatly improved mobility. I'm also looking forward to smaller size clothes options, let's be real here. But health is my main motivator. I'm in my early-mid 40s and I without taking this step, I can't imagine what the next half of my life (one can only hope) would look like. So, I'm as ready as I'll ever be!

Day 7 of liquid pre op diet. so far so good. Scared to have a bite of anything not on my list and have not had one bite of anything that I shouldn't. Not weighing myself until surgery day (17th) but I feel like if lost some weight. There have been moments (just moments) where I'd like to have a chunk of chicken or something but the moments pass. I get to have greek yogurt (which in the evening is like manna from heaven). Other than that it's the Protein Shakes, low fat cottage cheese, creamed Soups and lots of liquids. I've been getting in about 110 oz of liquid a day, some days a little more, some a little less. The first 4 days I was only getting about 500-550 calories a day and by day 5 the weakness and irritability was hitting me so I upped the cals that day (I'm allowed 800-1000) and that made a big difference. Feeling great today. Much better. I was at my mother in laws yesterday for Mothers Day and they had tons of food there and I have two little ones that I have to feed so I have had to be around food and deal with it. I am finding that keeping a good mindset is making such a difference. Instead of feeling deprived I'm feeling alive with the excitement over what this all means. I told my kids with confidence that next year around this time were going to Disneyworld (probably more for me than them!). I am so looking forward to being ALIVE for a change. Not that I haven't been alive obviously but there's different ways of being alive and I'm sick of this so called way of life. As a good friend said years ago, everything we do is either life giving or life taking. Every bite of food can be looked at this way too. Being on a liquid pre op diet, getting the surgery, dealing with the difficulties ahead, eating differently are all life giving things. And that sounds like a win-win to me.